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One Size Does Not Fit All
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At least 35 United Methodist churches and parsonages
reported damages from Hurricane Irene, which swept across Florida last month bringing
sustained winds of up to 75 miles per hour, gusts of up to 120 miles per hour and as much
as 20 inches of rain in some parts of the state. While many of the churches reported
damage estimates of less than $5,000, six reported damages in excess of $25,000. 
While
residents of the coastal areas of Palm Beach County prepared for the approach of last
month's Hurricane Irene, residents of Canal Point on the shores of Lake Okeechobee said
they were not told what to expect. After the storm, nearly 6,000 local residents had been
affected in some way, yet it took almost two weeks for federal disaster response to reach
the inland area. In the meantime, members of Canal Point United Methodist Church decided
to help their neighbors, offering food, water and a listening ear. 
Woodlands United Methodist Church in Tamarac was one of the
conference's most severely damaged churches after Hurricane Irene. But as members look at
the estimated $150,000 worth of damage, they see the chance to make things new at their
28-year-old church. "We're getting new pews," said one member. "Let's make
them comfortable." 
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